By Mitchell Clarke
A Pakenham singer has brought joy to her community amidst the Covid-19 lockdown, using the power of social media to belt out classic opera hits during daily online performances.
Trained opera singer Bronwyn Dean, 31, begun posting the daily singing videos to the Fallingwaters Estate Facebook page at the beginning of April.
“Covid-19 is an incredibly serious disease and as we are right now in Stage 3 of restrictions, I thought that a small gesture may bring a little extra joy to the area during what is a surreal and unprecedented time,” Ms Dean said.
“We are all trying so hard to stay home and stay healthy (mentally and physically) and for me, singing really helps.
“I now have the time to sing everyday and really spend time on it which I struggled to do before in this crazily just world.”
Filmed from her house, Ms Dean has recorded and posted classic songs including Elvis Presley’s ‘Falling in Love with You’, Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, Frozen’s ‘Let it Go’ and ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from hit musical Les Miserable.
Ms Dean, a head of music and performance teacher at St Joseph’s College in Ferntree Gully, said the decision to post the snippets of positivity was a “good opportunity” to connect with her local community.
“I enjoy living in Fallingwater Drive … it is a closely linked estate … some people in our estate can go for walks but many may be feeling a tad isolated or just strange because you are out of routine,” she explained.
“I practice in my garage, inside my house and in the backyard and I think that people living in a few of the surrounding houses have worked out who I am as they have made comment that they can hear me practicing from their lounge room.”
And there’s been no complaints from neighbours, who seem to be enjoying the daily updates, with some even contacting Ms Dean directly to request specific song covers.
“The responses have been overwhelmingly positive and I enjoy reading them each time,” she explained.
“My favourite comment so far has been ‘I can see myself literally looking for your daily songs just to smile!’.”
Ms Dean, who has a Bachelor of Arts and Music, said her passion for music has been around since she was a child, but it continues to grow everyday.
“Music is fun, it’s energetic, it is emotive and allows you to listen to someone else’s story,” she said.
“I’ll keep uploading videos as it’s a great way to stay connected with the people in your area during this particularly surreal time.”
